A major new survey and study of local news reveals a number of unsettling trends for broadcasters. Key findings from the Pew Research Center survey include a declining preference for local TV news as a preferred source of local news, declining usage of news from local TV stations and extensive dissatisfaction with the way all local news outlets cover such issues as the economy, local governments, schools and crime.
The “Americans’ Changing Relationship With Local News” study from the Pew Research Center found that only 32% of those surveyed named TV as their preferred source of local news in 2024. While that is higher than any other media, it marks a significant decline from 2018, when 41% named local TV it as their preferred source.
